East High: Home Of The Wildcats
When High School Musical swept the nation, kids and teens went crazy for the swooning looks and voices of the well-picked cast. The stuck-in-your-head music and the Grease-like story line was enough to create fan bases all across
I had the amazing pleasure of experiencing a Vancouver-based theatre company, Uncle Randy Productions, put on an incredible High School Musical remake at the Bell Performing Arts Center, in Surrey. After their sold-out show in North Vancouver at Centennial Theatre, they did four encore performances over the weekend of January 25th for popular demand, which was well needed.
Before the performers even hit the stage, the crowd was screaming with anticipation. Kids, teens and adults of all ages were there with big smiles and shining faces. The leads all had amazing voices, as did the chorus, and the show kept everyone entertained.
Some critique about the acting; it could've been much more expressive, as I found myself becoming impatient waiting for the singing to begin. The dance sections were well rehearsed, but very basic. I thought they could've showed off their training more extensively, as many of the characters had been to prestigious dance schools.
Many performances stood out for me, one being the woman who played Ms. Darbus, Sylvia Zaradic. She was probably my favourite throughout the entire show, as she played the role to a tee, and the audience went crazy over her hilarious accent and demeanor. The two main leads as Troy and Gabriella, Dane Szohner and Elicia MacKenzie, had great singing voices and even though MacKenzie's voice broke once or twice, she came back strong in her solos. Amanda Williamson, who played the part of Sharpay, was strikingly similar to Ashley Tisdale in both looks and voice, which made her stand out from the crowd. The set was strategically placed and looked phenomenally created. It really gave the atmosphere that extra "oomph!"
Overall, mistakes were made of course, but the enthusiasm was infectious and everyone in the audience was kept entertained from beginning to end. Afterwards, the cast signed autographs and took pictures with the kids, which was a great ending to the night. The musical has earned rave reviews, and there's no question why. It was a fun filled evening that was great for the whole family.
